Visitors told to stay away from hospital as cases rise
HOSPITAL visitors are being restricted from seeing their loved ones across sites in Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board due to a rise in Covid cases.
New rules were unveiled by health bosses on Saturday ahead of Bridgend going into lockdown.
They are now operating in the line with the plans rolled out in March at the start of the pandemic.
Hospitals in Bridgend, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil are covered by the health board.
Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board, in a statement, said: “Despite the increased measures and local lockdown in Rhondda Cynon Taf earlier this week, cases of coronavirus across the Cwm Taf Morgannwg area are continuing to rise and are a real cause for concern.
“As a consequence of this situation across the county boroughs of Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil and
Rhondda Cynon Taf, we are having to suspend visiting as we did at the beginning of the pandemic in order to protect our patients, our staff, and our communities.
“All hospital visiting will be restricted from Saturday, September 19, across all Cwm Taf Morgannwg hospital sites and will come into effect at 9am.
“As a health board, we fully appreciate this is incredibly difficult, but please be assured these restrictions will be under constant review.”
But health chiefs did underline there were exemptions to the rule.
They include when a patient is having end-oflife care, along with in paediatrics and neonatal areas, with one person only allowed in after being agreed by the clinical team.
Arrangements in place for a pregnancy ultra sound scan remains unchanged and one partner or birthing partner is able to go along with a woman in labour and in the post-natal period for a limited time – but no other visitors are allowed.
The health board said: “You must not visit if you are feeling unwell, especially if you have a high temperature or new persistent cough.
“We fully understand the importance of patients seeing their loved ones during their time in hospital and as lockdown eased we were able to re-introduce some visiting with alterations such as staggered visiting times.
“Unfortunately, because of the increase in positive cases once again we have to take appropriate measures in the interests of everyone’s safety.
“To help maintain contact with loved during this time, we encourage families to use the free wifi across our sites using online technology and our teams and dedicated staff will be available to support families with this.
“Our priority remains to keep all our patients, staff and our communities safe although we appreciate the disappointment this may bring to families and we are continually grateful for your co-operation in this matter.
“It has never been more important for everyone living in these communities to follow the advice and guidance of the agencies responsible for managing this developing situation.
“Coronavirus is a very real and present threat to all our health.”